Screen Territory’s 2024 NT Screen Summit spotlights local production

With the Northern Territory currently experiencing a production boom, this weekend will see screen professionals, game developers, and aspiring creatives converge in Darwin for Screen Territory’s 2024 NT Screen Summit.

The NT Screen Summit is a free, two-day event designed to inspire, connect, and inform attendees about the ever-growing opportunities within the Territory's screen industry as well as to highlight and explore contemporary industry trends.

The Northern Territory’s screen sector is expanding rapidly, which Screen Territory supports through a range of grant programs and initiatives, including the Production Attraction Incentive Program (PAIP). This year alone, PAIP has attracted major productions like NCIS: Sydney, Amazon Prime’s smash hit series Deadloch, and Miranda Tapsell’s Top End Bub to the Territory.

Testament to the strong national profile of the annual Summit and the strength of NT’s screen creatives, is the number and calibre of screen professionals travelling into Darwin for the event. Screen Territory’s federal counterpart, Screen Australia, will host a series of one-on-one meetings in the lead up to the two-day Summit, while peak industry body Screen Producers Australia will engage with Territory-based producers.

Funding decision-makers who can greenlight productions and acclaimed production companies will all be in the room to share their knowledge and experience alongside a wealth of NT creatives ready to tell Territory stories to a global audience.

NT Screen Summit attendees will have the chance to explore creativity, innovation, and craft through engaging sessions and expert-led discussions. The event will provide insight and pathways into professional screen careers for Territorians, whether they are just starting out or looking to advance in the industry.

Jennie Hughes, Director of Screen Territory shared "The Territory is rapidly making its mark on the screen production map. Our talented actors, crew, writers, and key creatives are stepping up, working across multiple productions, and driving growth and opportunity in the local NT industry. Their dedication and dynamism is shaping an increasingly bright future for the Territory screen industry.

"We’re excited to be once again hosting and producing the NT Screen Summit this year which has attracted an absolutely stellar line-up of screen professionals including creatives behind Thou Shalt Not Steal, Territory and Deadloch.

“This year, it is with no small measure of excitement that we also welcome some of the NT’s most celebrated Aboriginal screen practitioners including Rachel Perkins, Dylan River, Rarriwuy Hick, Danielle McLean, Trisha Morton-Thomas and Libby Collins.”

Ahead of the Summit, Screen Territory is hosting a special gala event screening on Friday night at the Deckchair Cinema where SPARK 2024 recipients will showcase their short films.

The local screen professionals were awarded $30,000 each as part of the initiative that saw them develop their short films under the guidance of industry leaders including Emmy-nominated showrunner Greg Haddrick (Pine Gap, Wolf Creek series, Janet King, Human Error, Underbelly).

SPARK recipients also received support from leading industry screen organisations Panavision, Trackdown, The Post Lounge, Screen Producers Australia, Sydney Acting Studio, and the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) further bolstering opportunities for emerging filmmakers in the Territory’s increasingly growing screen industry.

Tickets are almost sold out for the SPARK short film screening on Friday 20th September so secure your tickets now through the Darwin International Film Festival page www.diff.net.au www.diff.net.au

For more information on the NT Screen Summit, visit www.screenterritory.nt.gov.au/summit